Gingrich Is History

Republican Rebellion Topples House Speaker

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the highest-ranking elected Republican in the country and architect of the party's wildly successful 1994 ``Contract With America'' will step down in the face of stinging losses in Tuesday's elections.

Gingrich announced Friday night that he would drop out of the race for speaker, but he also reportedly will give up the Georgia congressional seat he has held since 1978.

Gingrich's announcement came at the close of a hectic day that swirled with rumors and speculation. Just hours earlier, a close Gingrich friend and longtime ally, Rep. Robert L. Livingston, R-La., had announced he would challenge Gingrich for the high-profile position.

Faced with mounting opposition, frustration and anger among his members, Gingrich, at home in Georgia, issued a statement at about 7 p.m. through his Washington office.

``Today I have reached a difficult personal decision. I will not be a candidate for speaker of the 106th Congress. The Republican conference needs to be unified, and it is time for me to move forward where I believe I still can have a significant role to play for our country and our party,'' the statement said.

``I urge my party to pick leaders who can both reconcile and discipline, who can work together and who can communicate effectively. They have my prayers and my thoughts as they undertake this task.''

Gingrich's statement did not refer to his reported decision to leave Congress as well, though GOP lawmakers who had taken part in a conference call with the speaker said he planned to do so to make it easier on the next speaker.

It was a stark turnabout from just a few days ago. Over the weekend, Gingrich appeared to be riding high, predicting substantial gains in the House from Tuesday's election. At the same time, his arch- political enemies, President Clinton and the Democratic Party, were bracing for bad news and the start of impeachment proceedings. Clinton released a statement Friday calling Gingrich ``a worthy adversary.''

``Despite our profound differences, I appreciate those times we were able to work together in the national interest, especially Speaker Gingrich's strong support for America's continuing leadership for freedom, peace and prosperity in the world,'' Clinton said.

Republicans praised Gingrich and his leading role in wresting control of the House from the Democrats for the first time in 40 years. But they also noted that he has long been a lightning rod for controversy.

``Newt played a huge role in bringing us into the majority, but he has been the story for far too long. Tonight he did something honorable,'' Rep. Christopher Shays, R- 4th District, said in a statement.

Shays, who considers himself a friend of Gingrich's, had harshly criticized the speaker earlier in the week, calling for widescale changes in the GOP leadership. Shays was not available for comment Friday and has not indicated whom he might support in the race to succeed Gingrich.

Speaking on CNN, Ed Rollins, a longtime Republican consultant, said he wouldn't be surprised if Gingrich gave up his seat in addition to the speakership. He said he understood how difficult it would be to go back from the House's top job to the rank and file.

Gingrich made his decision apparently after several days of telephone calls from his Georgia home to House Republicans soliciting their support. It turned out that many colleagues were reluctant to promise their support to the controversial speaker.

Livingston, chairman of the appropriations committee, may be the first candidate out of the starting blocks, but the race is likely to get crowded.

``Livingston may have been able to beat Newt Gingrich. Now Livingston has got to beat five or six other candidates,'' said Rollins. ``I think you've got a wide open game and the quicker they get this thing resolved the better for the Republicans.''

Among those who have voiced interest in the speaker's job are Rep. Bill Archer, R-Texas and chairman of the Ways and Means Committee; Rep. David McIntosh, R-Ind.; and Rep. James Talent, R-Mo.

Rep. Christopher Cox, the Californian who heads the Republican Policy Committee, jumped into the race to succeed Gingrich late Friday during an appearance on the ``Larry King Live'' show on CNN.

Friday morning, Rep. Steve Largent, R-Okla., announced he planned to take on Armey for the majority leader post. But by late in the day, he and a number of others were being talked about as candidates for the top job.

That afternoon, Gingrich, through his spokeswoman, had expressed disappointment that his longtime friend Livingston had decided to mount a challenge.

When he met with reporters, Livingston said the decision wasn't easy, but that he felt change was essential for the Republicans to get back on track.